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Paxoi Παξοί | |
|---|---|
 Gaios Port | |
 Flag | |
  Paxoi Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates:39°12′N20°10′E / 39.200°N 20.167°E /39.200; 20.167 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Ionian Islands |
| Regional unit | Corfu |
| Seat | Gaios |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 30.121 km2 (11.630 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Municipality | 2,466 |
| • Density | 81.87/km2 (212.0/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 490 82 |
| Area code | 26620 |
| Vehicle registration | KY |
| Website | www.paxi.gr |
Paxos (Greek:Παξός) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, lying just south ofCorfu. As a group with the nearby island ofAntipaxos and adjoining islets, it is also called by the plural formPaxi orPaxoi (Greek:Παξοί, pronounced/pækˈsiː/ in English and[paˈksi] in Greek). The main town and the seat of the municipality isGaios.[2] The smallest of the seven mainIonian Islands (the Heptanese), Paxos has an area of 25.3 square kilometres (9.8 sq mi), while the municipality has an area of 30.121 km2 (11.630 sq mi)[3] and a population of about 2,500.
Paxos lies some 15 km from the southern tip of Corfu and at about the same distance from the town ofParga on the mainland. It is connected by ferry lines fromIgoumenitsa andCorfu with Gaios. The island is hilly, the highest point having an elevation of 230 m.[4]
InGreek mythology,Poseidon created the island by striking Corfu with histrident, so that he and his wifeAmphitrite could have some peace and quiet.
Paxos is a historical island that has been inhabited since prehistoric times. According to tradition, thePhoenicians were the first settlers on Paxos, and it is believed that the name "Paxos" originated from the Phoenician word "Pax," meaning "trapezoidal." In ancient times, Paxos played a significant role, especially during the First Illyrian War in 229 BC when theBattle of Paxos was fought between the ancient Greek andIllyrian fleets. The account of this battle is documented in The Histories, a work by the ancient historianPolybius.
Paxos has been ruled by various conquerors, including theRomans in the 2nd century BC, pirates during theByzantine era andMiddle Ages, and byCrusaders. Eventually, the Venetians gained control of the island at the end of the 14th century.
During theNapoleonic Wars, the Ionian Islands were occupied by the French and the Russo-Turkish alliance. However, Paxos surrendered to theRoyal Navy frigateHMSApollo and 160 troops from the 2nd Greek Light Infantry from Cephalonia and the 35th Regiment of theRoyal Corsican Rangers on February 13, 1814. The United Kingdom established theUnited States of the Ionian Islands in 1815. In 1864 Paxos, along with the rest of the Ionian Islands, were ceded to Greece following the coronation ofGeorge I of Greece.
Paxos lies some 15 km from the southern tip of Corfu, and at about the same distance from the town ofParga on the mainland.
The island is approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) long and up to 3 kilometres (2 mi) wide, stretching in northwest–southeast direction. Much of the hilly landscape is covered in olive groves. These stretch fromLakka, the harbour community in the north, throughMagazia to Gaios, the capital. Coastal communities of Gaios, Lakka and Longos on the east coast are the three main settlements, while the interior features numerous scattered hamlets. The west coast is dominated by steep white, chalky cliffs that are greatly eroded at sea level, and harbour many "blue caves". The highest point of the island is Agios Isavros at an elevation of 231 m. Several islets lie very close to the coast of Paxos: Agios Nikolaos and Panagia protect the harbor of Gaios, while Mongonisi and Kaltsonisi lie off the southeastern tip. Antipaxos lies some 5 km further southeast.[5]
The production of olive oil, soap manufacture and fishing were supplanted by tourism as the main industry in the mid-1960s, resulting in a construction boom, which has greatly altered the coastline around Gaios, the capital of the Paxiotdemos (community).
Only a few articles have been published on the herpetofauna of Paxos and Antipaxos; the latest in 2014[6] and 2017,[7] where the following reptile species were confirmed:Hemidactylus turcicus,Mediodactylus kotschyi,Algyroides nigropunctatus,Hierophis gemonensis, andZamenis longissimus. Earlier reports ofLacerta viridis,Laudakia stellio, andPlatyceps najadum were not confirmed.
No amphibians have been reported on the islands.
The province of Paxoi (Greek:Επαρχία Παξών) was one of theprovinces of the Corfu Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality Paxoi.[8] It was abolished in 2006.
Among well known semi-permanent British inhabitants wereAudrey Good, former commander of the UN refugee bases inEpirus following theGreek Civil War, actorPeter Bull (author ofIt Isn't All Greek to Me), and actressSusannah York.
Members of theAgnelli family (ofFIAT fame) have built a palatial holiday home—complete withfaux medieval tower—on a small island of (Kaltonisi) situated near the southernmost tip ('the heel') of Paxos, close to the beach ofMongonissi.
Paxos is part of a European network calledCultural Village of Europe. The annual Paxos Festival was founded by John Gough, and is now organised by theGuildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and attracts some of Europe's finest young performers. This festival events usually take place between June and September and are usually held in the disused school ofLongos.[9]
The island is serviced by combined passenger and vehicle ferries which operate year-round from the port ofIgoumenitsa on the mainland ofGreece (1.5 hours). In the tourist season hydrofoils, passenger ferries and sea-taxis operate from Corfu (1–2 hours). A hydrofoil passenger service operates outside the tourist season, but is infrequent and weather dependent. Winter visitors should anticipate occasional periods of isolation.
| Climate data for Loggos, Paxi (Λογγός, Παξοί) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 13.9 (57.0) | 14.3 (57.7) | 16.0 (60.8) | 19.0 (66.2) | 23.9 (75.0) | 28.2 (82.8) | 31.1 (88.0) | 31.4 (88.5) | 27.6 (81.7) | 23.2 (73.8) | 18.5 (65.3) | 15.2 (59.4) | 21.9 (71.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.2 (41.4) | 5.8 (42.4) | 6.8 (44.2) | 9.5 (49.1) | 13.4 (56.1) | 16.9 (62.4) | 18.8 (65.8) | 19.3 (66.7) | 16.8 (62.2) | 13.8 (56.8) | 9.8 (49.6) | 6.7 (44.1) | 11.9 (53.4) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 132 (5.2) | 136 (5.4) | 98 (3.9) | 62 (2.4) | 36 (1.4) | 14 (0.6) | 7 (0.3) | 18 (0.7) | 75 (3.0) | 148 (5.8) | 181 (7.1) | 180 (7.1) | 1,087 (42.9) |
| Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute (temperatures)[10] and Holiday Weather.com (rainfall)[11] | |||||||||||||
| Regional unit ofCorfu |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit ofCephalonia | ||
| Regional unit ofIthaca | ||
| Regional unit ofLefkada | ||
| Regional unit ofZakynthos | ||
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| International | |
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| Geographic | |
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